Help me buy an Alfine equipped bike

BarryRoubaix

I'm interested in a hub geared bike for my daily commute (2-6 miles each way, Bike is second part of the commute) on road and bike/tow path.
I've decided anything Alfine hub geared fits my criteria. Please don't recommend fixed etc. I have 5 other bikes which are likely to fit any of the genres you might suggest apart from unicycle.

I've been looking at the following but am struggling to find any alternatives.
- Ridgeback Nemesis - seems to be ideal @ £529
- Merida S'presso - Too expensive
- Giant Escape R sub zero - 700c wheels, fancy 26" as easier to throw in the back of the car.

Does anyone have any thoughts or alternatives to this list?
My budget is up to £700 but in reality i'd rather go between £500 - £600

ride_whenever

You will still have a bit of trouble tossing a 26" bike in the back of the car unless it is a fairly large car. Do you have a folder? The birdys are pretty nice.

ride_whenever

also a 700c with 23mm tyres isn't a huge amount bigger than decent sized slick tyres on a 26" tyre.

BarryRoubaix

It's a civic, swallows my 21" rockhopper etc etc.
Couldn't live with a folder - Still too much of a conservative ex-roadie.
I appreciate they have their uses and are a brilliant bit of engineering but my prejudice is too great. At least i'm honest.

The bikes listed above would also be suitable for a kiddie trailer should junior arrive.

Christ what's happening to me - commuter bike.... kids. This was never part of the master plan.

Ok - 700c not ruled out (spare fronts wont be a problem I've got more wheels than I know what to do with).

Back to the bikes please.... anymore suggestions. Please name some alfine bikes I should be looking at.

always_tyred

A unicycle?

ride_whenever

You might be able to make an alfine pompino for around that much, they're fairly sweet, the prototype was 649.99 but is now sold.

Mark_K

Charge Mixer ?
http://www.chargebikes.com/projects/project/files/Mixer/

http://www.bikeradar.com/commuting/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/mixer-08-28772

Roastie

ride_whenever wrote:

You might be able to make an alfine pompino for around that much, they're fairly sweet, the prototype was 649.99 but is now sold.

Last time I looked they still had their Alfine hub + free Pompino frame & Alpina cross fork special on - might be worth a look.

A leftfield option might be a Charge Mixer (IIRC), but tyre clearances might be a little tight and the style may not be for you. Personally, I'd build up an Alfine bike around a Surly Cross Check frame and a JTek Alfine bar end shifter, the Pompy would run a close second.

ps. IMHO, Sub-Zero is nice.

BarryRoubaix

Mixer looks nice but pushes my budget too far. RRP = circa £899

Thanks for the suggestion though.

MichaelW

Dahon cadenza 8 has Alfine, disk brakes, speedy 26" slicks and EEB for chain tension.
the frame folds for car portage. When its not folded it looks and rides like a normal bike. I ride mine 2x6 miles and it is a really good fast-cruising town bike. The 2008 model is still available at a steal.

I would avoid any bike using the chain tensioner device and beware of using horizontal dropouts with disks, it may affect disk alighnment

edhornby

Winstanley's have the Bianchi Camaleto listed in the price range...

if it was my money I'd be tempted to call On One and ask them about a pompino with an alfine built into a wheel, it would probably be the cost of a standard pomp, plus hub plus the standard single wheel build cost

you say you have 5 bikes currently, could you convert one of the existing fleet?

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Saracen Pylon 8 from Rutland's Ebay store for £300?

If worried about the weight (approx 13Kg on my quality bathroom scales), you could strip the frame and use either an On-One Scandal (was £200 at the weekend) or a rock lobster tig team sl from Merlin (£209) along with perhaps an "exotic" carbon rigid frame from Ebay (~£80). Or like said above, that £99 Pompino frame offer may still be on.

You could even go the 29er route if that Scandal offer is still on, albeit you would need to sort out a 29er front wheel and get the hub gear rebuilt onto a larger rim.

All depends on how special you want your Alfine commuter to be and how deseperate you are to spend 700 squids...

I opted to stick with the default Saracen, fit some 1.75" Marathon Pluses (coverred by selling original tyres) and a set of SKS Beavertail mudguards. Yes, its a lot heavier than my Felt, but I'm enjoying the cushioned ride of those fat tyres through the myriad of potholes and the more upright position!

spasypaddy

cannondale badboy?

marksteven

hi check out my home build specialized on page 13 of comuting bike pics had it since sept done 3000 miles since all thru the winter not missed a beat , often do 35 miles a day even done a few club runs on it

BoardinBob

I can't see eBay in work but there was an Alfine geared Saracen Pylon for £300 on this link a few days ago

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/18-SARACEN-PYLON- ... 4%3A50null

Possibly the same one here

http://www.google.co.uk/product_url?q=h ... n&sa=title

jedster

by the way, does the alfine hub work with any sti type shifters?

N0bodyOfTheGoat

jedster wrote:

by the way, does the alfine hub work with any sti type shifters?

There is a custom handlebar endcap shifter made by someone (begins with "j"?). I believe the Nexus grip shift works too.

BarryRoubaix

jtek
http://jtekengineering.com/jtek_bar-end_shifter.htm

as for Alfine bikes, I've looked at a Merida s'presso with tyres taht look like you'd have to walk around most corners. El cheapo tyres, not Conti or Swalbe slicks. Looked a bit rich too at £850

prawny

Hubba hubba!



bit steep tho, erk!

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/can ... e-ec016542

lardboy

I got pointed to one of them when I was wondering about a hubbed commuter. I hate to think how many times you have to pump up your front after someone's tried to nick the tyre, even if it's chained to something.

It looks like a thief magnet!

prawny

Oh yeah I agree, the guy in evans pointed me at it. My initial thought was 'I'd love that bike for the 7 minutes that I had it'

Someone would probably nick it from under you :shock: